What great bikes to tour on... inexpensive, reliable, and the most you can lose is $1500 if the engine grenades on you. And what a great trip! Didn't do it myself in my late 20s/early 30s, will have to wait until my mid-50s and my son is off to college.

Packing is a dilemma, bungies are perhaps the worse thing you can use. ROK straps are best but of course you can't get them now. Some type of adjustable strap you can pull tight.....like a tie down.

You could get a couple of motorcycle tie downs and criss cross them over your WATERPROOF seat bag.

You won't need much gear, less and less as you go further and further!

Don't pass by the LOVE motels. We stayed in them all the time. Some fabulous ones for $20! Most will let you stay from early evening until late morning if you ask. Don't order food and drink there though, that's how they make more money. It's wise to stop or go out after settling, and get your drinks and food from a store. Sometimes the store is a LONG way away.

I carried a small notebook and a pocket calculator....one of the best forms of communication! Just ask them to write down prices and times etc in the notebook...and/or you can have them enter stuff in the calculator or do it yourself. Served me well fro 75 days and all I can say in Spanish is cerveza and banos.

Lube those chains. Anything will do.

Get petrol all the time. Even if you only need half a gallon. It's another opportunity to interact and it will serve you well.

Learn to point and say "Como se dice eso en Espanol" or simply..."como se dice"........"how do you say that in Spanish"...or...."how do you say that".........after they repeat the name of what you are pointing at you can repeat it and say for example........"Ahhhh, empana e jambon e queso...tres por favor, cuanto cuesta?"

If you get close to anyplace we did don't be afraid to ask for more info, you can email Colleen or PM us.

Protection is required at anyspeed,when I dropped mine in 1969 the speed was just above walking,we were on ice in the shadow of the mountain,the second drop I could see the cartilage in my knee. still itches today.

You can ruin your whole trip if one of you gets injured even slightly.

Just suck it up and wear your gear all the time. That's gloves, pants, helmet, jacket. Even if you move your bike across a car park wear your helmet at least, even if you have flip flops and shorts on.

I'd say boots and helmet are a must even if just moving a bike. Heads and feet get hurt even at low speeds.

If you just stand upright and fall over your head hits the ground at 12mph. That's why helmets are tested to that rate.

I am relatively new to the ADVrider Forum scene, but I have been reading your ride reports with interest and just wanted to send an offer your way.

I don't know if you plan to come to North Carolina in your travels or not, but if you do, my wife and I would be glad to put you up for the night if you like, show you around a bit and provide a garage where you can do any maintenance you might need to do.

We live near Asheville, NC, which is a fantastic area for motorcycle riding, and also, since you mentioned visiting craft breweries, Asheville has been known as "Beer City USA" for several years now for its overabundance of craft beer breweries and beer related events.

If you think you may come this way at some point and you're interested in stopping here, just let me know and I will provide my contact info.